System and Method for Producing a Flexible Geographical Grid

Abstract

A variable resolution grid provides a mechanism for focusing specific concentrations of risk exposure on a geographical grid to determine projected loss caused by a particular catastrophe. The geographic grid provides a stable base map by using latitudes and longitudes to define the grid points and cells. Each cell is assigned a geographic identifier or geocode that identifies the location of the cell and its associated resolution. The resolution of the grid may be varied depending in part, on the resolution of any available of hazard data.

1 . A method for locating a concentration of risk exposure on a geographical grid, the method comprising:
 subdividing, using one or more processors, a latitude and longitude grid into a predetermined number of cells corresponding to various levels of grid resolution, each cell having a geocoded point associated therewith;   assigning, using the one or more processors, a geographic identifier to each geocoded point, the geographic identifier including indicia representative of a plurality of levels of grid resolution;   retrieving, using the one or more processors, hazard data for at least one cell using the geographic identifier associated with the at least one cell, wherein a resolution of the hazard data corresponds to the at least one cell, and wherein the hazard data includes a weighted average of hazard values distributed across the at least one cell;   verifying, using the one or more processors, a presence of hazard data from a hazard table for the geographic identifier associated with the at least one cell that corresponds to a highest level of grid resolution associated with the geographic identifier;   acquiring, using the one or more processors, hazard data for the at least one cell at the highest level of grid resolution when it is determined that the hazard table includes hazard data for the at least one cell at the highest level of grid resolution; and   adjusting, using the one or more processors, the geographic identifier to a lower level of grid resolution when it is determined that the hazard table does not include hazard data for the at least one cell at the highest level of grid resolution.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including obtaining, using the one or more processors, one or more geocoded points associated with corresponding cells within a particular geographical region in which to locate risk exposure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the weighted average of hazard values corresponds to hazards that can occur in the particular geographical region corresponding to the at least one cell. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each geocoded point is located at a corner of a corresponding cell. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the corner at which each geocoded point is located is the corner closest to an origin of the latitude and longitude grid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each geocoded point is located on a perimeter of a corresponding cell. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic identifier assigned to the cell is related to a level of resolution to which the cell belongs. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a length of the geographic identifier is related to the level of resolution. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of levels of grid resolution is at least 0.0001 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weighted average is distributed across an entire area of the at least one cell. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to subdivide a latitude and longitude grid into a predetermined number of cells corresponding to various levels of grid resolution, each cell having a geocoded point associated therewith, to assign a geographic identifier to each geocoded point, the geographic identifier including indicia representative of a plurality of levels of grid resolution, to retrieve hazard data for at least one cell using the geographic identifier associated with the at least one cell, wherein a resolution of the hazard data corresponds to the at least one cell, and wherein the hazard data includes a weighted average of hazard values distributed across the at least one cell, to verify a presence of hazard data from a hazard table for the geographic identifier associated with the at least one cell that corresponds to a highest level of grid resolution associated with the geographic identifier, to acquiring hazard data for the at least one cell at the highest level of grid resolution when it is determined that the hazard table includes hazard data for the at least one cell at the highest level of grid resolution, and to adjust the geographic identifier to a lower level of grid resolution when it is determined that the hazard table does not include hazard data for the at least one cell at the highest level of grid resolution.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the one or more processors to obtain one or more geocoded points associated with corresponding cells within a particular geographical region in which to locate risk exposure. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the weighted average of hazard values corresponds to hazards that can occur in the particular geographical region corresponding to the at least one cell. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each geocoded point is located at a corner of a corresponding cell. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the corner at which each geocoded point is located is the corner closest to an origin of the latitude and longitude grid. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each geocoded point is located on a perimeter of a corresponding cell. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the geographic identifier assigned to the cell is related to a level of resolution to which the cell belongs. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a length of the geographic identifier is related to the level of resolution. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of levels of grid resolution is at least 0.0001 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the weighted average is distributed across an entire area of the at least one cell.